Automatically-operated support



S. E. SUDBURY.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED SUPPORT. APPLICATION nuzn APR. 22. ms.

1,346,773. A Patented July .13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- WWW" mm Ill/1W WITNESSES J51 INVENTOR Q5 \YILZI IiCLIL-E Sudbary A M I w ATTORNEYS S. E. SUDBURY.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. ms.

1,346,773. Patented uly 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR W L is J/wmanzrdudaa A TTORNEYS S. E. SUDB-URY.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, I918. 1,346,773, Patented July 13,1920.

glwuento'c cf'hermnfl Qmdbm Witness.-

f uM t UNITED STATES E ATENT ,QFFIQE.

SHERMAN E. sUDBURY, or SALT LAK CIT UTAH.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATED SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntgd July 13, 1920.

Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 230,113.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, SHERMAN ltnwnnn SUnnUnY, a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Salt Lake City, in the county port including a switch head having an automatically operating switch for controllin'gfi: the movement of the pin in closing a lid or other similar device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slotted support including an enlarged slot end with a catch, a gravity operated switch bar being pivoted on the slotted support and arranged to normally close a portion of the enlar ed slot end permitting-the pin to pass forwardly out of the catch but permitting the pin from returning after it has once passed the switch bar, said switch bar including an arched portion poimitting the pin to return to the slot ofthe support on the closing movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support as described, includinga plurality of switches and gravity. operating cooperating switch bars, for adjusting the lid or other similarv device to which the support may be pivoted, to any desired angle.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a support as described, including a pivoted switch bar, saidpivot including'a hair spring arranged to urge the switch bar in one direction should the weighted end of the switch bar be omitted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support including an enlarged slot end constituting a switch, a switch bar hav- Y ing a leaf spring mounting operating in said switch to control the movements of a pin :in said switch.

Other objects and advantages will appear 1 in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective'view showing one applicationof theautomatically operating support,the support inthe present instance being shown as' applied to the lid of a phonograph cabinet,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in section, of the support,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the position of the support when the lid is 'closed, Fig. i is a detail perspective view of the switch end of the support,

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the action of the switch bar on the initial move ment in closing the lid,

Fig. 6 is-a detail cross section-on the line 66 of Fi 5, showing how the pin passes the arched portion of the switch bar,

- Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 showing how a hairspring is embodied in the pivot when the weighted end of the switch bar is omitted, 4

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modification showing a plurality of switches and pivoted switch bars, for obtaining a number of adustments of the lid,

Figs. 9 and 10 are slde elevations of the support showing further modifications in the arrangement of the switch bar, Fig. ll'is a crosssection on the line 11'11 of Fig. 10,v

Fig; 12 is a detail perspective view of a portioniof a support showing a full leaf spring switch, v w y Fig'lZ-B 1s a side elevation of. a support showing a plurality of the switches illustrated in Fig; 12, and

Fig. 14 is a detail inverted perspective of the parts shown in Fig/ 12. I

In carryin'glout my' inventionI provide a support 1 which is suitably arranged at the upper end to receive arivet 2 by means ofwhich the support is pivoted to a bracket I 3 of any su table design. The bracket 3'in the present instance is secured to one side of the lid i of the phonograph-"cabinet )5.

When it is stated that the bracket 3 may be of any suitable design, it is meant that "the shape or" the bracket will be such that "it" may be readily afliXed tovarious kindsl of lids, etc. Should the lid l be simply a flat lid without the flanged part asillustrated,

the base portion 'ofgthe 'bracketfi will be bent over at right angles so that the screws may be screwed dire- .tly into the lid and the bracket will be mounted directly on the lid instead of on the sides as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Formed in the support 1'is a longitudinal slot 6 which terminates short of the pivot 2 at one end, and in an enlarged slot end in ,a substantially central position in the.

support 1 in the position indicated in Fig.

2 when the lid 1. is open.

An inclined back wall 10 of the switch 7 reaches from the recess 9-to a recess 11 at the base of the switch. An automatically operated switch bar 12 is normally disposed switch 7. The free end of the switch bar 12 is beveled at 13 in order to lie snugly against'jthe inclined back wall 10 ot' the switch. r

A weighted end 141 of the switch bar 12 beyond the pivot 15 upon which the switch bar is mounted, normally keeps the beveled end 13 in contact with the inclined back wall 10. An arch 16 in the switch bar adjacent to the pivot 15 permits the head of 'the pin 8 to pass the switch bar on the r e turn movement of the pin in closing the lid.

The heel 17 of the switch'har 1.2 is rounded andcoincides with the'rounded end 18 of the switch 7 where it mergeswith the slot. 6 at the bottom. 7

The action of the support 1 will now be readily understood from the foregoing descriptlon. The weight of the support 1 bears the upper side of the slot 6 against the pm 8 in raising the lid 41, so that when the recess 9 is reached, the catch simply drops over the pm and "for the time being holds the llCllIl the open pos1t1on. The weighted end 14 of the switch bar 12 always keeps the beveled end 18 in contact with the inclined hackwall 10 under the influence of gravity. 50

Now in closing the lid, the lid is lifted up so that the inclined back wall 10 slides over the 7 pin until the pin reaches the switch bar 12.

The switch bar is then moved aside and the pin enters the lower portion of the switch,

momentarily occupying the recess 11.

The recess 11 isnecessary to house the pin '8' and permit the switch bar 12 to move back to its original position. On continuing to close the 11d, the bottom-edge of the switch bar 12 rides'on thepimand when the pin reaches the rounded portion 18 of the switch 7, thexhead of the pin passes beneath the arch 16 and on continued movement, the pin -8 again enters the slot 6.

\Vhen the lid is entirely closed, the pin 8 actuate the switch bar 12 finds occupies the base ofthe slot 6 as shown Fig. 3.

There may be instances where the use of I the weight '14 or the switch bar 12 to keep j the beveledend 13 of the switch bar pressed against the'inclined back wall 10, is not feasible. In such instances, a hair spring. 19 is arranged at the pivot 15 to keep the switch .bar. 12 inthe position indicated, as

shown in F ig. 7. The use of springs'to other methods of employment as shown in Figs.

9 to 11, and the arrangement here shown will presently be more fully explained.

A multiple switch support is employed instead of the single switch support-shown in F igs. 1 to. 4, where it is desired to make it possible to obtain the adjustment ofa lid or other similar device at any desired angle. Such a support is illustrated in Fig.

8 and this support is the same in principle as the support illustrated in Fig. 2, the differences 1 in the two structures being that the support 1 in Fig. 8 is accordingly shaped to accommodate a pluralityof the switches 7 and switch bars 12.

In the present instance, five of the.

switches? are shown, the lowermost switch 7 terminating in a recess 11, similarly as 15 the case in the switch 7 inFlg. 2. It will be observed that the parts in Fig. 8 are identical to the parts of the switch in Fig. 2 with the exception as stated above, that a plurality of the switches is provided instead of the single switch shown in Fig. 2.

The advantage of thearrangem'ent shown in Fig. 8 is, that the lid f1, should the mul tiple switch supportl he attached to the lid, may lie/adjusted tofany of the angles.

represented by the five recesses 9.

viously, if it be desired to increase or dc" crease the number of switches in the sup port 1 to obtaina corresponding range of adjustment of the lid, it may be done with.- out GXBICISlIlQ invention. Furthermore, the

weighted ends 14 of theswitch bars 12 may .he left off and hair springs 19 substituted,

to urge the switch bars 12' into'contact with the respective inclinedba ck wall 10.

Attention is again directed to Jigs. Qto

11 in which several modifications in the" mounting ofthe switchbars 12 are illu trated. In Figj 9 the construction of the V switch 7' is the same as the construction shown in F g.2. ,Th s is also true in the case of Flg. 10. In Fig. 9, an arched tongue 20 formed on the rounded portion 18 of the i switch, extendstowardthe inside of the switch 7. and has a slot or 'equivalent means for mounting the leatspring 21-to which the switch bar 1.2 is attached, V

In F ig. 10 the arrangement issomewhat different, in that the arched tongue 20"is formed on the inclined back wall llland extends toward the switch 7. The free end of the tongue 20 is bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 11 and the leaf spring 21 which supports the switch bar 12 is suitably atfixed to the inwardly bent portion of the arched tongue 20. In most cases, the function of the leaf spring 21 is to always normally keep the beveled end 13 of the switch bar 12 against the inclined back wall 10, and it will readily be understood that the switch bar 12 in Figs. 9 and 10 operates precisely the same and is for the same purpose, as is the case of the gravity operated switch bar 12 in Fig. 2.

The operation of the automatic support is thought to be fully understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the following brief additional explanation. The weight of the support 1 always keeps the upper edge of the slot 6 against the pin 8 so that when the lid 4 is opened the natural tendency will be for the recess 9 of the switch 7 to drop over the pin when this portion of the slot 6 is reached, consequently providing a stop for holding the lid 4 in the open position as shown in Fig. 1. The initial closing movement of the lid consists of lifting the lid 1 up, whereupon the inclined back wall 10 rides upon the pin 11 until the switch bar 12 is reached. The switch bar 12 will be displaced as 7 shown in Fig. 5 and on the continued lifting movement of the lid, the pin 8 will enter the recess 11 permitting the switch bar 12 to assume its former position either under the influence of gravity by means of the weight 14 or under the influence of the hair spring 19 in Fig. 7. 'While the use of the weight 1 1 and the hair spring 19 is alternative, yet it is conceivable that the hair spring 19 may be employed in connection with the weight 14 to insure the return of the switch bar 12. It is of course conceivable that the switch bar 12 may at times stick onthe pivot 15 and such a possibility would be overcome were the hair spring 19 used in connection with the weight 1 1. The possibility of the switrh bar 12 sticking is remote however, and it is thought, will not ordinarily occur. it is desirable to take all of these possibilities into consideration, and in actual practice, the switch bar 12 will be so mounted on the pivot 15 as may be thought to best suit the purpose and insure the uniform and constant operation of the switch bar.

011 completing the closing movement of the lid, the )in 8 traverses the lower part of the switch 1, i. c. that portion beneath the switch bar 12. The arch 16 in the switch bar is high enough to permit the passage of the head of the pin 8 when the pin reaches the rounded portion 18 of the switch. The pin again enters the slot 6 and when the lid is entirely closed, occupies the base of the slot as shown in Fig. 3.

Precisely the same manner of operation follows in the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11. Any number of adjustments within therange of the recesses 9 in Fig. 8 may be obtained by simply moving the lid 41- to the desired position and permitting the correspondingly located recess 9 to fall upon the pin'8. The leaf spring operated switch bar 12 in Figs. 9 and 10 may have some advantages over the gravity operated switch bar 12 in Fig. 2 in that the parts are more compact. t is also possible to employ the leaf spring actuated switch bars in places. where a gravity operated switch bar will not worlr and for this reason, the two forms of the invention offer rather a wide field of application.

in conclusion, attention is directed to Figs. 12 to 11 inclusive, in which a' further modification of the device is illustrated. Here the characteristic features of the support will be recognized by their shape and the .corresponding reference characters in Figs. 3 and 8. The principal difference lies in the construction of the switch which in the present instance, is a single member integral throughout. 1

The switch blade ;'12 is bent over and merges with a 'bridge'22, which has a cutout portion 23 to make room for the head of the stud 8. The bridge 22 is bent over at right angles as illustrated, and is riveted in place on the support through this rightangled portion. The bridge 23 is resilient and when the stud bears down upon the blade 12 somewhat on the order illustrated in Fig. 5, the bridge 22 bends and permits the stud to passinto the recess 11. The modification illustrated in Fig. 13 simply comprises a plurality of the switches of the form illustrated in Fig. 12 on a support on the order shown in Fig. 8.

In many respects, the full spring switch illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14- 'is superior to the switches illustrated in the other views of the drawings. The full spring switch hero shown is easy to manufacture, and as easy to mount in place on the support. These switches may be made upin large numbers and to replace a broken switch is a matter which requires but amoment of time.

While the construction and arrangement of the automatically operated support is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modificationsand changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim i 1. A lid support, comprising a support bar with a recess for receiving a stud, and a switch bar, so mounted on the support bar and operatively associated with the recess, to cause the stud to travel in a relatively short local path around the switch bar at 7 the end of the support bar, by manipulating and without closing the lid which carries the support.

2. The combination with a cabinet haviiig a movable lid, of'a pin fixed on the cabinet, a support carried by the lid and having I a portion arranged to automatically en-' gage the pin and hold the lid open when it is raised, means carried by the support and operating automatically on further raising the lid to prevent the pin from reentering' said engaging-portion on the closing movement, and means embodied in said automatically operating means for normally urging saidmeans into one position.

3. The combination with a cabinet having a movable lid, of a pin fixed on the cabinet,

a support carried by the lid and including an opening having a recess adapted to gravitate on the pin and hold the lid open,

and a switch including an arehed'portion,

operating automatically in said opening on further raisingthe lid, to prevent the pin from rentering said catch and permit the closing of the lid, said arched portion pen 7 mittin g the pin to pass on the closing move ment of the lid.

4. The combination with a cabinet having a movable lid, of a pin fixed on the cabinet, a support carried by the lid, having a slot receiving the pin and including a recess adapted to gravitate over the pin on raising the lid, to hold it open, a switch bar carried by the support, operating automatically on additionally raising the lid whereupon the pin leaves the recess, to prevent said pin from reentering the recess and direct the pin to the slot to permit the closing of the lid,

mitting the pin to pass from the switch to r the slot on a return movement, and means embodied in the switch bar including a weighted end for normally urging the switch bar into one position.

6. Asupport having a longitudinal slot terminating in an enlarged end constituting a switch,- said switch including a recess adapted to receive a pin, an inclined back 1 i wall extending from the recess and terminating in an end recess, the bottom edge of the. switch opposite the end recess, ending in a rounded portion merging with the longitudinal slot; a suitably mounted switch bar with an arch, bridging the switch, the free end of the switch bar being in normal contact with the inclined back wall, the heel of the switch bar ending short of the rounded portion of the switch to provide a pin passage beneath the arch, and means for keeping the switch bar in normal position. 7

7. The combination with a cabinet having a movable top, of a pin fixed on the cabinet, a support pivotallymounted on the lid, said support having alongitudinal slot terminating in an enlarged end constituting a switch,

the switch having a recess adapted to'gravitate upon the pin on raising the lid to hold the lid in the openposition, and an end recess at'the base oithe switch; a pivotally mounted switch bar operating. in saidenlarged end and dividing the'space between said recesses, the pin being adapted to displace the switch bar during a portion of the closing movement of the lid whereupon the pin occupies the end recess to permit the' switch bar to move to its formerposition, and means including gravity operated means for urging the switch bar into the normal position.

8. A lid support, comprising a'bar, one

edge of which constitutes a stud track and terminates in a stud recess; and operatively associated switching means, movable upon further raising the lid, to let the stud pass and ride back over said means to return" on the same stud track.

SHERMAN E. SUDBURY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD SUDBURY,

WV. l/V. BEATIE. 

